Slip Stitch

SLIP STITCH RULE: Unless otherwise stated, a stitch is slipped as if to purl with yarn in back. This action allows the slipped stitch to sit untwisted on the right hand needle with the working yarn hidden on the wrong side. Sometimes a designer will spell this rule out for you in their pattern. If there are no specific directions on how to slip a stitch, follow the above rule. Of course there are many other ways to slip a stitch – as if to knit, with yarn if front, etc. – and these are the “otherwise stated” exceptions. The following video demonstrates the basic slip stitch and several variations.

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9 thoughts on “Slip Stitch”

Thanks for thinking of me for knitting advice. You dilemma is one of the big reasons that I am not a fan of slip stitch edges. In your customer’s scarf, the twisted knit stitch should be knit as it is presented (with right leg in back) to make the stitch closer in size to the right edge. For visible edges where o stitches will be picked up, I prefer a garter stitch selvedge. Happy knitting!

Hi! I got this question from a customer and I’m stumped. Thought you could definitely tell me an answer. Thanks!

“When I knitted my scarf, I slipped the first knit stitch of every knit row knitwise, and purled the first purl stitch of every purl row purlwise. Because the purl stitch takes more thread, the loop on the purl end of the scarf was always bigger than the loop on the knit end, which made the scarf longer on the purl slip side, and thus a little lopsided.

When I knit back to that slipped purl stitch, the right leg is in the back of the needle instead of in the front as a result of it having been slipped instead of worked which turns the stitch.

My dilemma is this: I’m knitting along and I come to this stitch to knit, but it is backward, right? I’m thinking that there is a particular way to knit this stitch that would make the big loop smaller. I can knit the right leg in the back of the needle or I can knit the left leg in the front of the needle. “

It will all be fine! At the end of the right side rows, work in pattern until there are 2 sts on the left hand needle. Move the working yarn between the needles to the front of the work, just like you would if you were going to work a purl stitch. Then, slip each of the two stitches on the left needle one at a time to the right needle. To slip, you will enter the stitch as if you are going to purl it but you DO NOT purl them. Just move them to the right needle. When you turn the work to the wrong side, knit the first four stitches as usual. The I-cord edge will emerge after a few rows. I hope this helps!

Heeeelp! I am having problems with the slip stitches at the end of the row. When I am on the right side row and I slip the last two stitches with the yarn in the front the working yarn goes in front of the stitches to got to the back to knit . Then it looks like I had purled and then when I start he next row they are purled. Frustration!!! What am I doing wrong Michelle. I’m feeling really dumb. The tubular cast on was very easy and clear with your video.